David Eldon
Encyclopedia
David Gordon Eldon is former Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. He retired in May 2005, after spending 37 years with HSBC Group. He is now the Senior Adviser of PricewaterhouseCoopers
.
, Scotland
, Eldon was educated at the Duke of York's Royal Military School
. He commenced a career in banking with an Australia
n banking group in London
in 1964, and joined The British Bank of the Middle East (now HSBC Bank Middle East Limited) in 1968. In January that year he took up his first position in Dubai
, remaining in the Middle East
undertaking a variety of roles in different countries. He was appointed Manager of Sharjah
branch in 1973 and Manager of Ras Al Khaimah branch in 1977.
He took up his first position in Hong Kong
in 1979 as Manager Special Projects in the head office of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. He later became a District Manager, with responsibility for the Bank's branches in Mongkok.
Eldon was appointed Deputy Managing Director of The Saudi British Bank (SABB
) in 1984 and returned to Hong Kong in 1987, when he took up the position of Senior Manager (International Corporate Accounts). At the end of 1988, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer
in Malaysia, and was promoted to General Manager in 1990. He returned to Hong Kong again in 1992 and later became General Manager in The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation's International department.
He became an Executive Director
of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in 1994 and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank in January 1996. In January 1999, he was appointed Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and the Executive Director of HSBC Holdings.
He retired on 27 May 2005, and was succeeded as Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation by Vincent Cheng, the first Chinese
Chairman of the Bank. In 1 September 2005, he was appointed the Senior Adviser of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Hong Kong.
He was also non-executive Chairman of Hang Seng Bank Limited, a director of HSBC Bank Australia Limited (formerly Hongkong Bank of Australia Limited), a director of the MTR Corporation
, a director of Swire Pacific Limited, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
. Now, he is Senior Independent Director of the Noble Group
, Chairman of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority and a number of other Boards and Government appointments, including the Presidential Committee for National Competitiveness
of President of South Korea
Lee Myung-bak
.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
.
Personal history
Born in InvernessInverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Eldon was educated at the Duke of York's Royal Military School
Duke of York's Royal Military School
The Duke of York’s Royal Military School, more commonly called the Duke of York’s, is a co-educational Academy with military traditions in Dover, Kent, open to pupils whose parents are serving or have served in any branch of the United Kingdom armed forces for a minimum of 4 years...
. He commenced a career in banking with an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n banking group in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1964, and joined The British Bank of the Middle East (now HSBC Bank Middle East Limited) in 1968. In January that year he took up his first position in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, remaining in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
undertaking a variety of roles in different countries. He was appointed Manager of Sharjah
Sharjah (city)
Sharjah is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah...
branch in 1973 and Manager of Ras Al Khaimah branch in 1977.
He took up his first position in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1979 as Manager Special Projects in the head office of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. He later became a District Manager, with responsibility for the Bank's branches in Mongkok.
Eldon was appointed Deputy Managing Director of The Saudi British Bank (SABB
SABB
SABB is an affiliate of the HSBC Group. SABB has a branch in London.-Services:SABB offers services in investment banking, commercial banking, private banking, and Amana Islamic Banking....
) in 1984 and returned to Hong Kong in 1987, when he took up the position of Senior Manager (International Corporate Accounts). At the end of 1988, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
in Malaysia, and was promoted to General Manager in 1990. He returned to Hong Kong again in 1992 and later became General Manager in The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation's International department.
He became an Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in 1994 and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank in January 1996. In January 1999, he was appointed Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and the Executive Director of HSBC Holdings.
He retired on 27 May 2005, and was succeeded as Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation by Vincent Cheng, the first Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
Chairman of the Bank. In 1 September 2005, he was appointed the Senior Adviser of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Hong Kong.
He was also non-executive Chairman of Hang Seng Bank Limited, a director of HSBC Bank Australia Limited (formerly Hongkong Bank of Australia Limited), a director of the MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation Limited is a company listed on the Hong Kong Exchange and included in the Hang Seng Index. MTR owns and runs the Hong Kong MTR metro system, and is also a major property developer and landlord in Hong Kong...
, a director of Swire Pacific Limited, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1861. It is a self-funding, non-profit organization whose mission is to safeguard and represent trade, service and industry in Hong Kong...
. Now, he is Senior Independent Director of the Noble Group
Noble Group
Noble Group Limited is a global conglomerate manager of agricultural, industrial and energy products. Noble manages a diversified portfolio of essential raw materials, integrating the sourcing, marketing, processing, financing and transportation....
, Chairman of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority and a number of other Boards and Government appointments, including the Presidential Committee for National Competitiveness
Competitiveness
Competitiveness is a comparative concept of the ability and performance of a firm, sub-sector or country to sell and supply goods and/or services in a given market...
of President of South Korea
President of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak is the President of South Korea. Prior to his presidency, he was the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction and the mayor of Seoul. He is married to Kim Yoon-ok and has three daughters and one son. His older brother is Lee Sang-deuk, a South Korean politician. He attends the...
.
Personal life
Eldon married in 1975 and has three children. One of his two sons is working in Hong Kong, while the other lives in Canberra, Australia. His daughter is also living and working in Hong Kong. Eldon continues to live in Hong Kong, where he has spent about a third of his life, and he intends to remain in Hong Kong.Honors
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers
- Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers
- Justice of the PeaceJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(2000) - Honorary Doctor of Business Administration of the City University of Hong KongCity University of Hong KongCity University of Hong Kong is a comprehensive research university in Hong Kong. It was founded in 1984 as City Polytechnic of Hong Kong and became a fully accredited university in 1994. It has achieved fast growth in recent years and received international recognition for its academic achievements...
(November 2003) - DHLDHLDHL Express is a division of the German logistics company Deutsche Post providing international express mail services. DHL is a world market leader in sea and air mail....
/SCMPSouth China Morning PostThe South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
Hong Kong Business Person of the Year for 2003 - Gold Bauhinia StarGold Bauhinia StarThe Gold Bauhinia Star is the highest rank in Order of the Bauhinia Star in Hong Kong, created in 1997 to replace the British honours system of the Order of the British Empire after the transfer of sovereignty to People's Republic of China and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special...
(GBS) (2004) - Commander of the British Empire (CBECBECBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
) (2005) - Asian Banker Lifetime Achievement Award (2005)
- Honorary Citizenship of SeoulSeoulSeoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...